Antimicrobial Adhesive Footwear Insert

Abstract

A footwear insert configured to detachably adhere to the insole of any of various types of footwear. The footwear insert includes a planar member composed of a robust, flexible, antimicrobial material. The planar member includes a front toe portion having an appendage and an adhesive material for protecting a user's foot from slipping, sliding and other movements and preventing the development of calluses, corns and other such skin conditions on the user's foot. In one embodiment, the appendage includes opposing first and second flaps adapted to adhere to the sides of the front inside cavity of footwear, such as sandal straps and toe-boxes, for added protection from slippage and the like. In an alternate embodiment, the appendage includes a pocket-like structure adapted to unnoticeably adhere to the front inside cavity for added protection from slippage and the like.

I claim: 
     
         1 ) A footwear insert, comprising:
 a foot-shaped planar member having a heel portion and a front portion, wherein said planar member is adapted to conform to an insole of an article of footwear;   an upper surface comprising an antimicrobial adhesive adapted to detachably receive a foot;   a lower surface comprising an antimicrobial adhesive adapted to detachably adhere to the insole of the footwear; and   an appendage comprising an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the appendage is connected to the front portion of the planar member, and wherein the exterior surface and the interior surface comprise an adhesive antimicrobial material, said exterior surface being adapted to detachably adhere to at least one portion of an interior of the footwear and said interior surface being adapted to detachably receive at least one portion of a foot.   
     
     
         2 ) The footwear insert of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface comprises Dycem®. 
     
     
         3 ) The footwear insert of  claim 1 , wherein the lower surface comprises Dycem®. 
     
     
         4 ) The footwear insert of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion of the planar member further comprises a slit adapted to receive a sandal strap. 
     
     
         5 ) The footwear insert of  claim 1 , wherein the appendage comprises a first flap and a second flap, wherein said first flap and said second flap oppose each other. 
     
     
         6 ) The footwear insert of  claim 1 , wherein the appendage comprises a pocket adapted to receive toes, said pocket being disposed on the front portion of the planer member and having an enlarged opening at a first end and a closure at a second end. 
     
     
         7 ) The footwear insert of  claim 1 , wherein the appendage comprises a tubular member, said tubular member comprising a first enlarged opening at a first end and a second enlarged opening at a second end, said first and second enlarged opening being adapted to slide over a foot.